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GOLDEN RELICS 



FROM CHIRIQUI. 



A PAPER READ BEFORE 



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OF PHILADELPHIA, 



On Thursda}/ JSvcning, October 5, 1863. 



ALFRED B. TAYLOR. 



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PHILADELPHIA: 

HENRY B. ASHMEAD, BOOK AND JOB PRINTER, 

Nos. 1102 AND 1104 Sansoji Street. 

1867. 






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GOLDEN RELICS FROM CHIRIQUL 



The curious and interesting relics which I have the pleasure 
of exhibiting this evening, are part of a large lot that was 
found in 1859, in one of the numerous huacas or burying 
grounds in the province of Chiriqui,'*' (New Granada), about 
180 ,miles southwest of the city of Panama. 

There are nine specimens, varying in length from ly'jj inches 
to 3 inches, and weighing from 130 to 1338 grains ; they vary 
considerably in color, some of them being bright yellow, while 
others are apparently alloyed more or less with copper. 

No. 1. A human figure with the head of a monster; the 
mouth open, and horns projecting from the end of the nostrils, 
the head surmounted by a sort of crown, projections from which 
on either side, form an ornamental framework around the Avhole 
figure. Size, 2 inches w4de, 1} inches high. Weight, 1 oz. 
4 dwt. 14 grs. 

No. 2. The representation of an animal not described in the 
books ; large globular projecting eyes ; mouth open ; the legs 
spread out horizontally, flattened into plates, each one termi- 
nating in a dolphin's head ; two ^ails, each terminating in an 
arrowhead. Size, 2g- inches wide, 3 inches long. Weight, 
2 oz. 61 dwts. 

No. 3. A frog, with large protruding eyes, the fore-legs 
terminating in rings. Size, f inches wide, 1^ inches long. 
Weight, 5 dwt. 10 grs. 

No. 4. An obscene human figure, with the head of a monster, 
and a tail pointed at the end, extending over the head in the 
form of a hoop, and held by both hands. Size, 1^ inches wide, 
IjQ inches high. Weight, 6 dwt. 4 grs. 

* David, the capitol of Ohiriqui, is in about 8° IT-' N., by 82° 30^ W. 



No. 5. The head of an alligator, evidently designed for a 
bell, being hollow, and having inside a ball of gold f inch in 
diameter ; the mouth open, and the lower and upper jaw each 
furnished with eight long teeth, so arranged as to prevent the 
ball from falling out. The eyes are oval, large and prominent ; 
upon the extremity of the nostrils is a large projection; under 
the lower jaw is a ring, not soldered on, but made in the origi- 
nal casting, which is the case with each one of these nine 
pieces, some of them having two rings, while others have only 
one. Size, yl inch wide, 2 inches long, IJ inches high. Weight, 
2 oz. 15 dwt. 18 grs. 

No. 6. An alligator, the tail bent up and resting upon the 
back; the forelegs terminating in rings. Size, f inch wide, 2 
inches long. Weight, 6 dwt. 6 grs. 

No. 7. An obscene human figure, with the head of a monster ; 
large projecting ears; the mouth open, and holding two balls 
in place of teeth ; holding in its left hand (perhaps) a stick ; 
each leg terminating in a brush. Size, 1^ inch wide, 2 inches 
high. Weight, 9 dwt. 9 grs. 

No. 8. The head of a bull, having large flat plates projecting 
from the nostrils, and ornamental scroll-work above the head 
on each side. Size, IJ inches wide. If inches high. Weight, 
10 dwt. 4 grs. 

No. 9. A bird Avith outspread wings and tail ; having an 
eagle-like head, with curved beak and large projecting eyes, 
and surmounted by two long crooked horns. Size, 2J inches 
wide, 2^ inches high. Weight, 1 oz. 7 dwt. 16 grs. 

In connection with these specimens, I have thought that the 
following account might prove interesting to the members of 
the Society, even if not new to all of them. 

For such information as I have been able to obtain respecting 
them, I am indebted to a volume entitled, " Antiquarian, Eth- 
nological and other Researches, &c., &c.," by William Bollaert, 
F.R.G.S., London, 1860, and to papers by F. M. Otis, M.D., 
and by Mr. E. G. Squier, published in Harper's Weekly, in 
1859. 

That these relics date back to a very early period, there 



seems to be but little doubt, not only from the fact that the 
present Indian tribes of Central America have no knowledge 
of these huacas, nor of the art of making the images found in 
them, but in the "History of New Granada" by Col. Joachin 
Acosta, mention is made of a discovery by the Spaniards as 
far back as the 15th century of similar treasures at Zenu, in 
the Province of Antiochia, New Granada. After speaking of 
the discovery of the riches in the Indian burial-grounds at Zenu, 
the historian proceeds with the following description : " The 
cemetery of Zenu was composed of an indefinite number of 
mounds of earth, some of a conical form, and others more or 
less square. When an Indian died, it was the custom to dig a 
hole capable of containing his arms and jewels, wJiich were 
placed on the left hand side of his grave, looking toivards the 
east, and around these were placed earthen vases containing 
chichi and other fermented drinks ; also Indian corn, and stones 
to pound the same ; also his wives and slaves (if he was a prin- 
cipal man), which last, thoroughly intoxicated themselves pre- 
viously to the interment ; and then the whole was covered over 
with a species of red earth brought from a distance. Then the 
mourning commenced, which lasted as long as there remained 
any thing to drink, and in the meanwhile the mourners con- 
tinued to throw earth upon the grave ; thus it was elevated ac- 
cording to the ability of the individual or family to provide a 
greater or less quantity of liquor. Jewels of gold in large or 
small quantities were found in all the tombs. In some were 
golden figures representing every class of animals from man to 
the ant, and sometimes in amount to the value of ten, twenty, 
and even thirty thousand dollars." 

They all have little rings at their backs for suspension ; and 
were doubtless designed as pendants either for the nose or ears, 
or were to be worn on the breast of their ancient owner. Far- 
ther to the southward, in Peru, the aborigines were remarkably 
skillful in working the precious metals. They cast them in 
moulds, soldered them, inlaid them, and reduced them into 
leaves. They were generally cast hollow, and with such per- 
fection as often to leave no trace of the joints of the mould. 



6 

They sometimes cast objects combining gold, silver, and cop- 
per, in alternate bands, so well inlaid and united as to appear 
to form one mass. Occasionally in vases and other open ves- 
sels, they embossed figures on the outside by hammering from 
the interior. 

In the latter part of June, 1859, a native of Bugalita, a 
small town in the district of Boqueron, in the province of Chi- 
riqui, (New Granada), while wandering through the forest in 
the vicinity of his cabin, encountered a tree which had been 
prostrated by a recent tempest, and underneath its upturned 
roots he espied a small earthen jar. Upon examination this 
proveS to contain, wrapped in swathing of half decayed cloth, 
divers images of curious and fantastic shape, and of so yellow 
and shining a metal, that he at once suspected them to be gold. 
Knowing himself to be in the midst of an ancient Indian 
" huaca," or burial ground, he immediately commenced an ex- 
ploration of the little burial mounds which were on every side, 
very shrewdly suspecting that they also might contain treasures 
of a like character. 

The result was, that in a very short time, (three or four 
days), he succeeded in exhuming no less than seventy-five 
pounds weight of these images. Not exactly confident, how- 
ever, of the quality and value of the metal, he disclosed to his 
neighbors his discovery ; and in less than a fortnight over a 
thousand people were at work, having dug up " more than nine 
arrobas," (225 pounds weight) of images, most of which proved 
to be of the finest gold. This is the substance of the informa- 
tion in regard to the discovery of these ancient relics, brought 
to the city of Panama by two natives of Bugalita, who sub- 
stantiated their statements by bringing also with them, in their 
canoe, seventy-five pounds' weight of golden images for sale. 
They also reported that there had been so great an excitement 
among the inhabitants for many miles around the huacas, that 
towns and flourishing estates were wholly deserted ; and that, 
in consequence of so great and unexpected an influx into that 
region, there hnd already come to be a great dearth of provis- 
ions, and that considerable suffering had been the consequence. 



The Governor of Chiriqui, in a letter to the Governor of 
Panama, stated that considerably more than ^100,000 \Yorth 
of images had been taken up ; that over 4,000 graves had been 
rifled, and that as there were innumerable graves in the vicinity 
still untouched, there was little doubt but that immense wealth 
would be eventually realized therefrom. 

The portion of the treasure which had been received at 
Panama, consisted of small images of gold, which had evidently 
first been cast in clay moulds, and afterwards hammered to the 
requisite degree of smoothness. The workmanship of many 
exhibited no little mechanical skill and ingenuity. Quite a 
large proportion were of virgin gold, Avhile others varied in 
purity from 15 to 20 carats fine, owing undoubtedly to the arti- 
ficers being ignorant of the art of separating the baser metals 
from the gold in its native state. The most frequent alloy was 
of copper.* 

Objects found in the tombs made of gold of low standard or 
alloyed with copper, were called guanin, or gianin and tum- 
baga ;t this class of metal was known as far as Honduras ; its 
sp. gr. is 11-55. It was assayed in Spain, and found to con- 
sist of 63 gold, 14 silver, and 9 copper. A recent analysis of 
gold from Titiribi in Columbia, gave gold 76-41, silver 23*12, 
and copper 0-3. In size these images varied from 3 penny- 
weights to 6 ounces, representing wild beasts, birds, fishes, 
reptiles, and semi-human monsters, hideous to the last degree ; 

* "Life of Columbus," by Irving, ii., 177. lu 1503, Columbus, when on the 
Mosquito coast, says, " there was no pure gold to be met with here, all their 
ornaments were of guanin ; but the natives assured us that in proceeding along 
the coast, the ships would soon arrive at a country where gold was in abund- 
ance. On the coast of Veragua, the Spaniards met with specimens of pure 
gold for the first time ; the natives wearing large plates of it suspended around 
their necks by cotton cords ; they had likewise ornaments*of guanin, gold of 
low standard, an alloy with copper, or a natural metal, rudely shaped like 
eagles." 

f Velasco, i., 31. Tumbaga or pucacuri (bad gold), is an alloy of gold and 
copper. It is found in a natural state in the mines of Patia de Popayan and 
Villonaco de Loja. This guanin is first mentioned by Columbus as forming 
the ornament of a chief, when coasting along the south side of Jamaica, in 
1494. 



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in very many, if not all the graves were found three plates of 
gold, from three to twelve inches in diameter, each pierced 
near the centre by two holes. But little reliable information 
could be gathered as to the. condition in which the graves and 
their contents were found, except that on the left hand side of 
every grave, looking toward' the east, were the jars containing 
one, or more golden images. 

According to Mr. E. G. Squier, the discovery of these 
relics is earlier than above stated ; he says in 1859 that " large 
quantities- h^vye been taken out from time to time, for many 
years, past; and I was informed by the late Governor of the 
Bank of England, that several thousand pounds worth were 
annually remitted from the Isthmus, as bullion, to that estab- 
lishment," he adds, " as to the origin and date of these relics 
there is no doubt." Columbus when he discovered Chiriqui 
Lagoon, in his fourth voyage, found all the chiefs and important 
people decorated with these and similar ornaments, which, as 
he says in his relation, gave him "great promise of the rich- 
ness of the country in gold and silver." Hence he named the 
district Castilla del Oro ; and hence the coast came to be 
I.nown as Costa Bica, or lich coast, a name still preserved, as 
tlia^t of ■ the State of Central America adjoining the Isth- 
mus. He mentions particularly among the ornaments worn by 
the chiefs, great plates or mirrors of gold suspended on their 
brea&ts, '■• which they would neither sell nor exchange." These 
plates Avere from three to twelve inches in diameter. Columbus 
adds that t-hiS Indians cast gold with some degree of skill, " but 
in no way equal to the Spaniards." He says, also, that "in 
all the regions around Veragua, the Indians inter with their 
chiefs, when they dicj, all the gold which they possess." 










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